Counselor Guo Xiaomei's Remarks at the Security Council Meeting on UN Peacekeeping Operations

2012/12/12

Mr. President,

I wish to thank Moroccan presidency for the initiative to convene this meeting to discuss the question of inter-mission cooperation. I would also like to thank Under-Secretaries-General Ladsous and Haq for their respective briefings.

United Nations peacekeeping operations are an important way of maintaining international peace and security. At present, United Nations peacekeeping operations are facing a situation of increasing demand while resources are being put under increasingly heavy strain. The sudden outbreak of issues in hotspots and their interconnectedness have made the situation ever more challenging for United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In recent years, United Nations peacekeeping operations, especially those that enjoy geographical proximity and whose mandates are connected in some way, have, as called for by the situation on the ground, cooperated in order to achieve complementarity in the use of resources. Such cooperation has enhanced flexibility in peacekeeping operations and achieved certain positive results. However, at the same time, inter-mission cooperation is also facing some specific issues with regard to establishing mechanisms and operating procedures. In that connection, I wish to make the following four points.

First, China is in favour of international cooperation according to the situation on the ground and as required by a specific operation. However, specific authorization should be obtained for such cooperation from the Council beforehand, and it should abide by the fundamental principles governing peacekeeping operations, especially that of the consent of the host country.

Secondly, in order to strengthen inter-mission cooperation, it is important first and foremost to ensure that the individual mandates are being effectively implemented. The Secretariat, in preparing for inter-mission cooperation, should first conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation on the ground and carry out reasonable conceptual and planning activities. The purpose of inter-mission cooperation is to more effectively implement Council mandates. It is therefore necessary to avoid a situation where the capacity of an individual peacekeeping mission is negatively affected as a result of such cooperation.

Thirdly, it is important to ensure that each peacekeeping operation receives adequate financial support and, at the same time, efforts should be made to achieve the optimal use of resources through proper cooperation among different missions. China is in favour of the efforts by the Department for Field Support to continue to implement global field support strategy and to consolidate resources among different missions in a timely and effective manner so as to make optimal use of the limited resources for peacekeeping.

Fourthly, in the course of inter-mission cooperation, the Secretariat should strengthen integrated coordination so as to ensure that there is a seamless connection and transfer among the various parties and between the various steps. It is equally important to seek the views of troop-contributing countries in a timely manner and to strengthen contacts and communication with them. With regard to specific developments of inter-mission cooperation, the Secretariat should keep the Council informed in a timely manner.